Following a six-year stint at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, during which she transitioned
from a graduate assistant to associate head coach, Rockford native Summer Perala has returned to the
state where she grew up and attended college to become the head coach of Eastern Illinois women’s
soccer.
Just the third head coach in program history, Perala played against the Panthers in each of her four
years (1998-01) as the starting goalkeeper at cross-state rival Western Illinois.
Perala joined Paul Harbin’s coaching staff at UAB in June 2003 as a graduate assistant. The Blazers enjoyed quite a bit of success during her time with the program, qualifying for the NCAA Tournament
in 2004 and 2006. UAB was the Conference USA regular-season champion in 2003 to go along with
its tournament titles in ‘04 and ‘06. The 2004 team won a school-record 16 games and defeated Wake
Forest in the opening round of the NCAA Tournament.
Perala made an immediate impact on UAB’s goalkeeper corps, which was comprised of only a
pair of freshman ‘keepers when she arrived on campus. In 2003, the Blazers limited the opposition to
21 goals in 19 games and registered nine shutouts, both program records. The defensive excellence
carried UAB to a 13-win season and its first C-USA title.
Perala completed a master’s degree in the fall of 2005 and was invited to stay on as a full-time
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assistant coach, while also serving as the Director of UAB Girls Soccer Goalkeeper Camps. She was
promoted to associate head coach after the 2006 season. Harbin also proved to be a valuable mentor during her six years in Birmingham.
“Paul was a fantastic mentor and allowed me to be involved in every aspect of the UAB program,” Perala says. “He was instrumental in helping me see the bigger picture in college athletics. As a coach, you are attempting to mold a student-athlete into
a well-rounded, productive and successful individual. Paul instilled the value of doing the right thing, and doing it well.”
Although EIU and UAB have never squared off in women’s soccer, Perala still got an opportunity to see the Panthers play
regularly in Birmingham. From 2003-07, a memorable rivalry developed between EIU and Birmingham’s other Division I university,
Samford. Eastern and Samford squared off in the Ohio Valley Conference Tournament four times during the Bulldogs’ five years
as a league member – including three straight years (2003-05) in the title game. Perala says she always made a point of attending
the EIU-Samford games in Birmingham whenever possible.
Now a college head coach for the first time, Perala is excited to begin putting her mark on the only program to qualify for the
OVC Tournament every season the event has been held.
“I’m very excited about this opportunity,” she says. “Eastern Illinois has such a solid reputation in both academics and athletics.
The university has all the right tools to attract the student-athlete that will have an impact on the field and help bring our program
back to the top of a challenging Ohio Valley Conference. Having played against Eastern, I understand the success this program
has enjoyed in the past and the type of players who contributed to that success. I believe that in combining player personalities
of our current squad with the incoming players, we can only get better. Based on the support from the administration and team, I
couldn’t have asked for a better environment to step into.”
Perala does plan on diversifying both the roster and schedule. She acknowledges the success that EIU has had with a Midwestern focus in the recruiting and scheduling efforts, but would like to expand the program’s profile toward the horizons.
“For our initial recruiting efforts, we’re really looking to bring in athletic, blue collar,
hard-working kids that are competent technically and tactically. We’ve been fortunate
with getting kids outside of the Midwest to look at Eastern Illinois. I understand there’s
a depth of talent in Illinois and the St. Louis area; this region is very soccer savvy.
However, our job is to not only bring in the best players from Illinois and the region, but
from out-of-state as well.”
Perala finished her playing career as the all-time saves (570) leader in both Western
Illinois and Summit League history, averaging more than eight saves per game over
her four years. Her .835 save percentage in 1999 was the single-season school record
until 2007. On four occasions, she made 15-plus saves in a game.
She also credits her college coach, Jen Daniels, for helping to highlight her current career path. Perala says she came to Western as a pre-med major before making
the transition to the education department as a sophomore. She served as a student
assistant for one season at WIU while finishing her degree. After student teaching, she
spent the spring of 2003 as the head coach of the girls’ varsity team at Guilford High
School, her alma mater.
While EIU as a university and its women’s soccer program had already impressed
Perala for some time, the players she has inherited also made a strong first impression
in the spring.
“The team did a wonderful job of adjusting to the different expectations when I arrived,” she says. “I’ll give them their due; they worked extremely hard and did everything
I asked of them and then some. We had a little bit of a rough start, but by our third match
(a 3-0 win against Valparaiso) everything seemed to be coming together. It felt good to
end the spring with a game like that, and it gave the team motivation to come into the
fall season prepared to hit the ground running.”

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• Panther Soccer: The OVC’s Premier Program

Asst. Coach Grant Williams

Grant Williams begins his first year as an assistant coach on Summer Perala’s staff in the
fall of 2009.
Williams comes to EIU after spending three seasons as an assistant at Western Kentucky
University. The Lady Hilltoppers compiled a 40-13-7 record during his time in Bowling Green.
WKU won Sun Belt Conference title in 2007 and reached the SBC Tournament title game a
year later. The Lady Toppers also earned a regional ranking from SoccerBuzz.com both seasons.
Williams was on hand for the Panthers’ final game this spring, a 3-0 victory against Valparaiso. Eastern and WKU played each other during the 2007 and 2008 regular-seasons as
well.
“I’m very excited to have Grant join our staff,” Perala said. “Coming from a successful
program at Western Kentucky, he understands the commitment and hard work needed to win
at the championship level. His knowledge and passion for the game, as well as his ability to
motivate, will be a fantastic addition to the EIU family.”
“I would like to thank Summer and the search committee for the opportunity to become
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part of the EIU women’s soccer program,” Williams added. “Eastern soccer has a strong
tradition and I look forward to making a valuable contribution to its future success. For their
support during this process, I would also like to thank my wife, WKU coach Jason Neidell, and the rest of the WKU
athletic department.”
Williams holds a United States Soccer Federation National “B” Coaching License. He also earned an NSCAA
Regional Goalkeeping diploma in 2006.
Around the Bowling Green area, Williams served as the assistant director of Southern Kentucky Soccer (200407), a staff coach in the Kentucky ODP program (2003-04, 2007) and a head coach in the SKY Soccer club (2002-07).
He also worked with boys’ varsity and junior varsity teams at Bowling Green High School from 2000-05 after volunteering during the 1997-98 school year.
Williams earned his bachelor’s degree in exercise science from WKU in 2004 and was a three-time President’s
Scholar. He served as a special instructor in the physical education department in 2003.
Williams also served a summer camp coach at Centre College (Danville, Ky.) from 1998-00 and was selected to
assist with the play-by-play and color commentary for the 2000 and 2001 NAIA national championships.
Williams completed his master’s degree in exercise science at WKU in the spring. He and his wife Elaine have
been married since 1999.

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Support Staff

Aaron Hasselhorst
Athletic Trainer

Angela Ziemba
Team Manager

Eric Cash
Strength & Conditioning

Cindy Tozer
Academic Services

2009 Eastern Illinois Women’s Soccer •
Since its inception in 1995, Eastern Illinois women’s soccer has enjoyed the most comprehensive success on the field and in the classroom
of any athletic program at EIU. The Panthers are the only Ohio Valley Conference team to qualify for the league’s postseason tournament
– winning it five times – every year the event has been sponsored (1999-present). Eastern also holds a number of conference records,
both individual and team, highlighted by the career goals and points marks held by Beth Liesen. Additionally, of the 11 OVC Player of the
Year awards handed out, five have gone to Panthers. The women of EIU soccer also excel in the classroom and have consistently been
ranked in the Top 75 nationally in team GPA.

2008: OVC Defender of the Week
SAM’s assist
(Oct. 21)… Balek started all 19 games, Date
Goal Scorer
Opponent
one of two Panthers to do so… key 10/17/08 Rachel Hamilton at Tenn. Tech
member of an EIU defense that posted
three straight shutouts and a scoreless streak of 434 consecutive minutes late in
the season… accounted for a key team save in the home victories against Morehead State and Southeast Missouri… assisted on Rachel Hamilton’s overtime
game-winner at Tennessee Tech… led the team in minutes played (1,691), averaging 89 per game… went the distance in 14 of the 19 games, including the first five
and final eight matches of the season… ended the year having played 781 consecutive minutes… played 715 of the possible 759 minutes in conference play…
logged a season-high 110 minutes in the scoreless draws against Northern Iowa
and Austin Peay... PREVIOUS COLLEGE: After attending Arizona State in the fall
of 2007, she transferred to EIU at the semester break and played for the Panthers
in the spring… HIGH SCHOOL: Sam was a four-year varsity starter for coach
Steve Keller… named the Area Player of the Year by the Chicago Sun-Times…
also earned All-Area honors from the Daily Herald (First Team) and Chicago Tribune (Honorable Mention)… Pioneer Press Great Northwest All-Area team… also
an All-Conference selection in the Mid-Suburban League West… earned all-conference and all-sectional honors from the Daily Herald… led Fremd to a runner-up
finish at the 2007 IHSA state playoffs... also was a member of a second-place
team at the U.S. Club Soccer National Championships with Sockers FC… honor
roll student… PERSONAL: No. 1 sports highlight was “tearing my ACL in October but coming back for my last high school season and finishing second in the
state”… her parents have been a major influence on her sports career because
“they have always helped me through the rough times”… most admires Michael
Jordan because “he persevered after getting cut early in high school and became
an amazing player”… daughter of Jeff and Lori Balek… MAJOR: Undecided.

• Panther Soccer: The OVC’s Premier Program
Year
2008

GP -GS Min
16 -7 885

Shots
1

SOG
1

& 2008 OVC Medal

of

Goals
0

Asst.
1

Points GWG
1
0

Honor (4.0 GPA)

2008: OVC Commissioner’s Honor
HILLARY’s assist
Date
Goal Scorer
Opponent Roll... Blake played in 16 games and
10/26/08 Lindsey Wilkening at Illinois St. started seven times, including the final
five matches of the season… assisted
on Lindsey Wilkening’s goal at Illinois
State… key member of an EIU defense that posted three straight shutouts and a
scoreless streak of 434 consecutive minutes late in the season… ended the year
having played 547 consecutive minutes, going the distance in each of the final
five games… ranked second among the EIU freshmen in minutes… averaged
90 minutes per game as a starter… played a season-high 110 minutes in the
scoreless draw at Austin Peay... HIGH SCHOOL: Hillary played for coach Julie
Bergstrom at Waubonsie Valley High School, where she was a member of back-toback IHSA Class AA state championship teams in 2007-08… WVHS was ranked
No. 1 in the nation by USA Today after posting a 26-0-1 record in 2008, extending
the nation’s longest unbeaten streak to 46 games following a 30-0-1 showing her
junior year... honorable mention all-conference as a senior... her Windy City Pride
club team was runner-up in the ’07 State Cup, but went on to win regionals in the
U.S. Club Tournament… also a member of the 2001 USA Cup champs… threetime Academic All-Upstate Eight Conference… Indian Prairie Scholar… high honor
roll student… PERSONAL: No. 1 sports highlight was committing to play Division
I soccer at Eastern… her sister Jessica has been a major influence on her sports
career because “she always sets a standard that I try to match or beat, which
pushes me to work hard. She encourages me and does not let me get too down”…
most admires Nick Thanadabouth, the co-founder and Asst. Director of Coaching
of the Windy City Pride, because “he is a good player as well as coach. He tells
you how to fix things rather than just saying you’re doing something wrong. He’s
a fun coach that can also get serious – a good balance”… daughter of Stuart and
Tracey Blake… MAJOR: Accounting.

2008: OVC Commissioner’s Honor Roll... Blake played in 11 games and started
three times… saw action in the first 11 games of the season before an injury in
practice the final week of September ended her campaign… started against Wright
State, Western Kentucky and Western Illinois… played a season-high 69 minutes
at WKU… logged 40 minutes off the bench in the draw with Northern Iowa... HIGH
SCHOOL: Jessica played for coach Julie Bergstrom at Waubonsie Valley High
School, where she was a member of back-to-back IHSA Class AA state championship teams in 2007-08… scored a hat trick in the ’07 state semifinals… WVHS was
ranked No. 1 in the nation by USA Today after posting a 26-0-1 record in 2008,
extending the nation’s longest unbeaten streak to 46 games following a 30-0-1
showing her junior year… all-conference honoree as a senior... her Windy City
Pride club team was runner-up in the ’07 State Cup, but went on to win regionals
in the U.S. Club Tournament… also a member of the 2001 USA Cup champs…
three-time Academic All-Upstate Eight Conference… Indian Prairie Scholar… high
honor roll student… PERSONAL: No. 1 sports highlight was committing to play
Division I soccer at Eastern… her sister Hillary has been a major influence on her
sports career because “I admire her work ethic and dedication to the game. She
always pushes me to play my best and encourages me”… most admires Nick Thanadabouth, the co-founder and Asst. Director of Coaching of the Windy City Pride,
because “he is a great soccer player and has taught me a lot. He tells me what I
can do to improve instead of just telling me how I messed up”… daughter of Stuart
and Tracey Blake… MAJOR: Elementary Education.

• Panther Soccer: The OVC’s Premier Program
Year
2008

GP -GS Min
17 -8 861

Shots
10

Ashley’s Goal
Date
8/26/08

Opponent
at Purdue

ASHLEY’s assists

SOG
7

Goals
1

Asst.
2

Points GWG
4
0

2008: OVC Commissioner’s Honor

Minute Roll... Eck played in 17 games and
64th started eight times, including five

straight OVC contests in October…

Date
Goal Scorer
Opponent scored EIU’s first goal of the season
10/29/08 Lindsey Wilkening at Illinois St. in the loss at Purdue… assisted on
10/10/08 Pam Melinauskas EKU Pam Melinauskas’ goal against East-

ern Kentucky and Lindsey Wilkening’s
goal at Illinois State… put seven of her 10 shots on goal… ranked third among the
EIU freshmen in minutes, averaging 58 minutes per game as a starter… played
a season-high 83 minutes at Western Kentucky... HIGH SCHOOL: Ashley was
a four-year letter-winner for coach Mike Lindsey… scored 27 goals as a senior
en route to Illinois High School Soccer Coaches Association All-State honors…
earned IHSSCA All-Sectional recognition as a junior after scoring 19 times… fourtime All-Central State Eight Conference selection: First Team as an upperclassman, honorable mention as an underclassman… two-time Quincy Notre Dame
All-Tournament Team pick… team captain as a senior… Sacred Heart-Griffin won
four straight regional titles as well as the ’08 conference crown… Illinois State
Scholar… National Honor Society and Spanish National Honor Society… honor
roll student ranked in the Top 10 percent of her class… Chicago Fire All-Academic
Special Mention… also played for the Team Davis and SASA Lady Magic club
teams… PERSONAL: No. 1 sports highlight was scoring a hat trick against Alton
on senior night at SH-G… her father, the head coach of the men’s soccer program
at Illinois-Springfield, has been a major influence on her sports career because
“he’s always positive and gives me tips and advice”… most admires her uncle
Ted, who played for the U.S. National Team in the ‘90s and the Dallas Burn of the
MLS, because “he has a lot of determination and went a long way despite starting
out with very little”… daughter of Joe and Marie Eck… MAJOR: Biological Sciences/Pre-Med.

2008: OVC Commissioner’s Honor Roll... Farrelly played in 12 games and started 10 times, including the first five and final two games of the season… missed
a good portion of October with an injury but returned for the home finale, playing
56 minutes off the bench in the victory against Southeast Missouri… averaged
72 minutes as a starter… played all 200 minutes at the NIU Invitational, going
the distance in both games... HIGH SCHOOL: Elise was a four-year letter-winner for coach Ryan Estabrook… team captain and MVP as a senior while sharing
the team lead in scoring… Daily Herald and Kane County Chronicle All-Area in
2008… three-time All-Western Sun Conference… all-sectional honoree as a senior… Geneva finished third in the IHSA state playoffs in 2005… GHS also won
four conference titles, three regional crowns and two sectional championships…
four-year honor roll student… GHS athletic leader at Western Sun Leadership
Conference… also played for the Chicago Magic club team, a seven-time state
championship squad that also was the Midwest Regional champs from 2004-06,
USL Super Y League North American champs in 2005, and a U.S. Club National
finalist in 2006… also a four-year member of the ODP state team… PERSONAL:
No. 1 sports highlight was playing soccer in Spain with the Chicago Magic… her
parents have had a major influence on her sports career because “they’ve always
supported and been there for me, and pushed me to do my best”… most admires
coach Estabrook because “of the respect and dedication he has for his teams”…
her mom played soccer at Illinois State… daughter of Bill and Stephanie Farrelly… MAJOR: Elementary Education.

11 • Panther Soccer: The OVC’s Premier Program
Year
2008
2007
Career

GP -GS Min
16 -10 822
13 -2 274
29 -12 1,096
Dani’s assist

Date
9/5/07

Shots
4
2
6

SOG
1
0
1

Goals
0
0
0

Asst.
0
1
1

Points GWG
0
0
1
0
1
0

2008: OVC Commissioner’s Honor

Goal Scorer
Opponent Roll... Flynn played in 16 games and
Kellie Floyd Indiana St. started 10 times, including the first

seven matches of the season… also
started both games of the Eastern Kentucky-Morehead State weekend… key
member of an EIU defense that posted three straight shutouts and a scoreless
streak of 434 consecutive minutes late in the season… averaged 68 minutes per
game as a starter… went the distance, playing a season-high 110 minutes, in the
scoreless draw vs. Northern Iowa... 2007: she played in 13 games and started
twice, the season opener at Eastern Michigan and home opener against Indiana
State… assisted on Kellie Floyd’s first goal in the Indiana State win… also played
a season-high 61 minutes in the home opener… averaged 46 minutes in the first
four games of the year… also logged double-figure minutes at Loyola and versus
Tennessee Tech and Illinois State... HIGH SCHOOL: Danielle was a four-year letter-winner for coach Maureen McVey… served as the captain of the junior varsity
squad before moving up to the varsity level… St. Joseph’s finished third in state in
each of her upperclassman seasons… also captained her St. Louis Soccer Club
team for five years, helping lead the squad to multiple state championships (199803, ‘06-07)… was a part of the Missouri ODP program… her extracurricular activities included: youth in government judicial leader, yearbook editor and Angels
Helping Angels… member of Mu Alpha Theta and Beta Chi Pi, which are math and
science honor societies, respectively… PERSONAL: No. 1 sports highlight was
starting her first college soccer game… her parents have been a major influence
on her sports career because “they always believe in me and reassure me, helping
me keep my faith”… most admires former St. Louis Rams defensive back Aeneas
Williams because “I was lucky enough to meet him at the fitness center where I
work and train. He puts his faith in God and gives 110 percent in everything he
does”… a number of her relatives played collegiate sports, including: her dad and
uncle Mike wrestled at Southwest Missouri State; her grandfather Dan and three
cousins played football at St. Thomas University; and her cousin Kelly played tennis and ran track at St. Thomas as well… daughter of Mike and Michelle Flynn…
MAJOR: Kinesiology and Sports Studies.

2008: Hamilton played in all 19 games and
RACHEL’s Goals
started 18 times, all but the Eastern Kentucky Date
Opponent
Minute
match… it marked the second year in a row 10/17/08 at Tennessee Tech
110th
she started all but one game… one of six 9/21/07 vs Western Illinois
28th
Panthers to play in every game… scored the 8/31/07 at Eastern Michigan
90th
game-winning goal in overtime in the victory 9/15/06 at Wright State
75th
at Tennessee Tech, her second career OT 9/3/06
vs Loyola
106th
score… assisted on Sam Kohen’s goal vs.
Rachel’s assists
Southeast Missouri and Kaitlin Sullivan’s goal Date
Goal Scorer
Opponent
at Morehead State in the OVC Tournament… 11/4/08 Kaitlin Sullivan at Morehead*
led the team in shots… registered a career- 10/26/08 Sam Kohen
SEMO
high eight shots in the scoreless draw with 10/12/07 Alexis Miller
at SEMO
Northern Iowa… ranked third on the team in 9/28/07 Kellie Floyd
at EKU
minutes played, averaging 81 per game… 9/14/07 Kathleen Hayes
Ball St.
went the distance on three occasions… 9/5/07
Kellie Floyd Indiana St.
played a season-high 105 minutes in the 9/2/07
Alexis Miller
at BGSU
overtime win at Tennessee Tech… Eastern
*OVC Tournament Game
is 3-1-1 when she has scored during her
career... 2007: she played in all 20 games
and started 19 times… the only game she didn’t start was Senior Day against Jacksonville
State… ranked second on the team with five assists, setting up goals by: Alexis Miller at Bowling
Green, Kellie Floyd’s first goal against Indiana State, Kathleen Hayes’ game-winner versus Ball
State, Floyd at Eastern Kentucky and Miller at Southeast Missouri… also scored herself in the
season-opening win at Eastern Michigan and against Western Illinois, tying the game in the
first half against the in-state rival… averaged nearly 60 minutes played per match, logging a
season-high 86 minutes in the draw with Western… OVC Rankings: eighth in assists... 2006:
she played in 19 games and started all four matches of the season-long homestand… beat
Loyola with her first career goal, an overtime game-winner… it was the first overtime goal by
an EIU freshman since Michelle Steinhaus beat Southeast Missouri in 2004… also scored in
the loss at Wright State… put both of her shots on goal in her first collegiate action, the season
opener at Western Illinois… tallied a season-high three shots versus Bowling Green... HIGH
SCHOOL: Rachel was a four-year letter-winner for coach Mike Lindsey… also lettered four
years in volleyball and basketball, and twice in track… two-time All-Central State Eight Conference and all-sectional honoree… captained both the soccer and volleyball teams as a senior…
all-conference honors in volleyball… SH-G won four consecutive (2003-06) regional titles…
2005 city champs… played for the Metro United club team, which was a national qualifier in
2004-05… also recently played in the Springfield Co-Ed Soccer League... PERSONAL: No.
1 sports highlight was scoring the overtime game-winner against Loyola as a freshman… her
family has been a major influence on her sports career because “they have been there for
me through everything, always pushing me to do better, but they’re my biggest fans”… most
admires former EIU coach Tim Nowak because “he always pushed me to try hard and gave me
new challenges every day”... her brother Andrew played soccer at the University of Chicago…
daughter of Andy and Teresa Hamilton… MAJOR: Communication Studies.

13 • Panther Soccer: The OVC’s Premier Program
Year
2008
2007
2006
Career

Minute started the final three matches of the
22nd season… scored the game-winning goal,

the first of her career, in the home finale

Goal Scorer
Opponent against Southeast Missouri… the victory
Pam Melinauskas Tenn. Tech in that game propelled the Panthers into

the OVC Tournament… saw action in all
eight conference games… averaged 56 minutes as a starter… logged a season-high
73 minutes in the SEMO victory… played 47 minutes as a reserve in the scoreless
draw at Austin Peay... 2007: OVC Commissioner’s Honor Roll... she played in six
games, three of which were OVC contests… recorded her first assist as a Panther
on Pam Melinauskas’ goal and logged a season-high 19 minutes in the victory over
Tennessee Tech… also registered a pair of shots in the Tech win… logged doublefigure minutes (18) in the home-opening victory against Indiana State... 2006: OVC
Commissioner’s Honor Roll... she played in 18 games, including both OVC Tournament contests, and started the season-opener at Western Illinois… put her lone shot of
the season on goal at WIU... HIGH SCHOOL: Sam was a multiple varsity letter-winner
for coach Mark Schartner… also played varsity basketball… three-time all-conference selection… All-North Suburban Conference and All-Lake County honoree...
two-time all-area and all-sectional selection… twice named Pioneer Press Athlete of
the Week… team captain as a senior... four-year honor roll student and varsity medal
of honor recipient… won NSC Lake Division and IHSA Regional titles at Stevenson
High... two-time three-on-three national soccer champion... was part of a gold-medal
winning team at the 2003 Maccabi Games... also played for the Chicago Gaels club
team... PERSONAL: No. 1 sports highlight was scoring the game-winning goal in the
Gold Medal game at the Maccabi Games… her brother Scott has been a major influence on her sports career because “he motivates and challenges me to be the best
possible soccer player and person I can be”… most admires Chicago Cubs manager
Lou Pinella because “he expects nothing less than the best from his players and
loves to win”… dean’s list student at EIU is a member of Phi Alpha Eta (honors) and
Alpha Epsilon Delta (biology) honor societies... ranked among the Top 100 nationally
among honors college sophomores... daughter of Keith and Lori Kohen… MAJOR:
Biological Sciences.

2008: OVC Commissioner’s Honor Roll...
kaylin’s Game-by-game recap
Two-time OVC Goalkeeper of the Week Date
Opponent
Saves GA
– 2008 –
(Sept. 2 and Oct. 21)… Lorbert played in 11
at Purdue
4
1
games and started 10 times… got the starting 8/26
at Northern Illinois
6
1
nod in the OVC Tournament game at More- 8/29
vs Northern Iowa
10
0
head State… helped EIU lead the OVC in 8/31
9/5
Wright State
2
1
saves… made a career-high 11 saves in the 9/7 Eastern Michigan
4
4
OVC Tournament game against Morehead… 9/19
at Western Kentucky
8
2
also reached double-figures in saves (10) in 10/12 Morehead State
5
0
8
0
the scoreless draw with Northern Iowa… put 10/17 at Tennessee Tech
9
0
together a shutout streak of 342 minutes in Oc- 10/19 at Austin Peay
5
2
tober, helping spark EIU to an OVC Tournament 10/29 at Illinois State
at Morehead State*
11
2
berth… posted a shutout in each of her three 11/4
– 2007 –
OVC starts – Morehead State, Tennessee Tech 9/2
at Bowling Green
3
0
and Austin Peay – and against UNI… earned 9/16
Western Kentucky
3
3
OVC Goalkeeper of the Week honors after mak- 9/21
Western Illinois
8
2
at Loyola
4
2
ing 17 saves and posting back-to-back shutouts 9/23
0
0
on the Tennessee Tech-Austin Peay road trip, 10/5 Tennessee Tech
0
and after making 16 saves and surrendering 10/12 at Southeast Missouri 0
0
0
just one goal at the NIU Invitational… gave up 10/26 Samford
10/31 Illinois State
2
0
just one goal in losses to Northern Illinois and
*OVC Tournament Game
Wright State… OVC Rankings: second in save
percentage, third in saves per game, and fifth
in shutouts… National Rankings: 20th in saves per game and 36th in save percentage…
EIU Single-Season Rankings: sixth in save percentage, seventh in shutouts and ninth in
goals against average... EIU All-Time Rankings: fourth in save percentage... 2007: OVC
Commissioner’s Honor Roll... she played in eight games and started three times… started
September games against Western Kentucky, Western Illinois and Loyola… came up big in
the draw with WIU, making a season-high eight saves… was perfect in relief, not allowing a
goal in the five games that she played in off the bench – a composite total of 118 minutes…
played the entire second half at Bowling Green and versus Illinois State… finished off the
shutout of Tennessee Tech, playing the final eight minutes... HIGH SCHOOL: Kaylin was a
four-year letter-winner for coach Maureen McVey… also lettered twice in softball… St. Joseph’s finished third in state in each of her upperclassman seasons... posted 17 shutouts and
led her team to a 24-1-1 record in 2006, earning St. Louis Post-Dispatch All-Metro Honorable Mention recognition… honorable mention all-star team kudos as a senior… earned first
degree academic honors her senior year thanks to a 4.0 GPA… second degree academic
honors the previous three years… also played for the St. Louis Soccer Club, winning eight
state championships (1998-03, 06-07)… also claimed ’07 amateur state and regional championships… PERSONAL: No. 1 sports highlight was stopping all three shots in a shootout
to lead her team to victory at the Iowa Tournament of Champions… her mother has been
a major influence on her sports career because “she always supported me and pushed me
to succeed”… most admires Fernando Hernandez, her goalkeeper coach with the St. Louis
Soccer Club, because “he is a talented player and a great coach”… daughter of Scott and
Mara Lorbert… MAJOR: Biological Sciences.

15 • Panther Soccer: The OVC’s Premier Program
Year
2008
2007
2006
Career

GP -GS Min
19 -17 1462
20 -18 1278
20 -11 ––
59 -46 ––

Shots
21
26
34
81

SOG
7
9
12
28

Goals
0
4
2
6

Asst.
2
6
3
11

Points GWG
2
0
14
1
7
0
23
1

& 2006 OVC All-Tournament Team
2008: OVC Commissioner’s Honor Roll...
Miller played in all 19 games and started
17 times, all but the Murray State and
Jacksonville State matches… one of six
Panthers to play in every game… assisted
on Ashley Eck’s goal at Purdue and Pam
Melinauskas’ goal against Southeast Missouri… will enter her senior season as the
ALexis’ assists
OVC’s active career leader with 11 assists…
Date
Goal Scorer
Opponent also ranks as the program’s active leader in
10/26/08 Pam Melinauskas
SEMO goals and points… ranked sixth on the team
8/26/08 Ashley Eck
at Purdue in minutes played, averaging 76 per game…
10/28/07 Michelle Steinhaus Jax State went the distance in road games at Northern
10/12/07 Michelle Steinhaus
at SEMO Illinois and Western Kentucky… played a
10/5/07 Ashley Slota Tenn. Tech season-high 98 minutes in the overtime
9/21/07 Kathleen Hayes
W. Illinois win at Tennessee Tech… Eastern is 3-2-1
9/21/07 Rachel Hamilton
W. Illinois when she has scored during her career...
9/16/07 Michelle Steinhaus
WKU 2007: OVC Commissioner’s Honor Roll...
10/31/06 Ashley Slota
UT Martin* she played in all 20 games and started 18,
10/26/06 Michelle Steinhaus at ILL St. coming off the bench in only the Tennes10/13/06 Kellie Floyd E. Kentucky see Tech and Austin Peay contests… led
*OVC Tournament Game
the team in assists while ranking second
in goals and points… her six assists were
the most by a Panther since 2004… scored two of her four goals by bending a corner kick
inside the near post, accomplishing the feat against Austin Peay and at Murray State in the
opening round of the OVC Tournament… the goal at Murray came in overtime and lifted
EIU into the tourney semifinals… became just the second Panther to score a golden goal in
the OVC Tournament… recorded her first career multi-assist game with two helpers in the
draw against Western Illinois… also registered her first game with a goal and an assist in
the loss at Southeast Missouri… for the season assisted on: Michelle Steinhaus’ early goal
against Western Kentucky, Rachel Hamilton and Kathleen Hayes’ goals versus Western
Illinois, Ashley Slota’s goal against Tennessee Tech, Steinhaus’ goal at SEMO, and the
first of Steinhaus’ two goals in the OVC finale versus Jacksonville State… logged 80-plus
minutes four times, including a season-high 84 at SEMO… OVC Rankings: fourth in assists... 2006: OVC Commissioner’s Honor Roll... she played in all 20 games and started
11, including five OVC contests… scored the game-tying goal against Murray State with
less than 10 minutes remaining, helping EIU salvage a draw… recorded EIU’s first goal of
the season, a first-half score in the win at Indiana State… assisted on the last two goals of
the year, Michelle Steinhaus’ game-winner at Illinois State and Ashley Slota’s game-winner versus UT Martin in the OVC Tournament…
also tallied a helper on Kellie Floyd’s goal against
Eastern Kentucky… led the EIU freshman class
with three assists and seven points… saw action in goal in the second half against Bowling
Green… registered a season-high five shots
on three occasions… OVC Top 10 Rankings:
tied for 10th in assists... HIGH SCHOOL: Alexis
was a four-year letter-winner and a three-time
first team all-conference selection for coaches
Jeff Muhr and Kristy Voss… also lettered once
in softball.... three-time St. Louis Post-Dispatch
All-Metro pick, headlined by First Team honors
as a senior… won a state title as a sophomore
in 2004… her St. Louis Soccer club team was
MYSA state champs in 2006… PERSONAL: No.
1 sports highlight was winning the high school
state championship in ’04… most admires her
former coach Scott McDonald because “he has
motivated me to become a better player, but most
of all, he helped me become the person I am
today”… daughter of Gary and Anita Miller…
MAJOR: Special Education/Early Childhood.

ALexis’ Goals

Date
11/6/07
10/12/07
10/7/07
9/2/07
9/24/06
8/27/06

Opponent
at Murray State*
at Southeast Missouri
Austin Peay
at Bowling Green
Murray State
at Indiana State

2008: Prazma played in 11 games… saw action in seven of the eight conference
games and the OVC Tournament contest at Morehead State… averaged 25 minutes over a five-game stretch in October… played a season-high 53 minutes in
the loss at Illinois State... HIGH SCHOOL: Erika was a four-year letter-winner for
coach Gene Briggs… also lettered once in volleyball and cheerleading… team
MVP as a senior after earning top defender honors her junior year… First Team
All-Southwestern Conference and all-state as a senior… all-conference and allsectional her junior year… super sophomore award… Chicago Fire First Team
All-Academic… GCHS was a three-time super-sectional champ and IHSA state
finals qualifier from 2005-07, finishing third in 2007… also part of four consecutive conference championship teams (2005-08)… with her Elks Soccer club team,
was runner-up at state with the U-12 squad and won the Pike’s Peak Invitational
with the U-14 team… three-time Bi-State Shootout and SLYSA League champs…
student body president… homecoming queen… Illinois State Scholar… four-time
high honor roll student… National Honor Society… Principal’s and Teacher’s
Foundation awards… Granite City Scholarship Foundation award… also played
in the Anheuser-Busch Premiere Soccer League recently… PERSONAL: No. 1
sports highlight was winning the super-sectional game against rival Edwardsville,
4-0, to advance to state for a third straight year in 2007… her parents have been a
major influence on her sports career because “they push me to be a better player
and put all of their time and effort into my activities”… most admires U.S. Soccer
great Brandi Chastain “for her hard work and dedication after being cut from the
National Team at first”… her cousin Scott played for the St. Louis Steamers of the
Major Indoor Soccer League… daughter of Kenny and Jill Prazma… MAJOR:
Sociology.

17 • Panther Soccer: The OVC’s Premier Program
Year
2008
2007
2006
Career

GP -GS Min
18 -10 826
15 -1 287
18 -1
––
51 -12 ––

Shots
15
1
11
27

SOG
8
1
5
14

& 2008 OVC Medal

of

Goals
0
0
1
1

Asst.
1
0
1
2

Points GWG
1
0
0
0
3
0
4
0

Honor (4.0 GPA)

2008: OVC Commissioner’s Honor
Rudi’s Goal
Roll... Ridolfi played in 18 games and Date
Opponent
Minute
19th
started 10 times, including the first two 10/6/06 at Tennessee Tech
Rudi’s assistS
matches and seven of the eight OVC
Goal Scorer
Opponent
contests… assisted on Pam Melinaus- Date
kas’ goal against Eastern Kentucky… 10/10/08 Pam Melinauskas EKU
9/15/06 Rachel Hamilton at Wright St.
registered a career-high four shots at
Jacksonville State, putting all four on
goal… averaged 67 minutes as a starter… played 80-plus minutes in five straight
games in October, a streak that was snapped due to an injury in the home finale
against Southeast Missouri… played a season-high 102 minutes in the overtime
win at Tennessee Tech... 2007: OVC Commissioner’s Honor Roll... she played in
15 games and started the regular-season contest against Samford… also played a
season-high 66 minutes in that game against Samford… saw her most action of the
season in the final three games of OVC play, logging 50 minutes at Murray State and
29 in the must-win game against Jacksonville State… averaged 40.5 minutes per
game during the final four games of the regular-season… also played 23 minutes
in the season-opening win at Eastern Michigan... 2006: OVC Commissioner’s
Honor Roll... she played in 18 games, including every game against an OVC foe,
and started the Tennessee Tech match… scored her first goal at Tennessee Tech…
tallied her first assist on Rachel Hamilton’s goal at Wright State… put two of her
three shots on goal in the win over Eastern Kentucky... HIGH SCHOOL: Laura was
a four-year letter-winner for coach Rob Moginot… also lettered twice in basketball…
two-time Alton Telegraph Small School Player of the Year… four-time First Team
All-South Central Conference honoree… two-time Belleville News-Democrat All-Area
selection, including First Team honors as a senior… two time St. Louis Post-Dispatch Honorable Mention All-Metro… three-time all-sectional… school-record 22
assists as a freshman… team captain both years as an upperclassman… Marquette
won four consecutive (2003-06) conference titles… regional champs in 2003 and
2005… member of the honors program… played for the Metro United club team…
PERSONAL: No. 1 sports highlight was being named Player of the Year by the Alton
Telegraph in back-to-back seasons… her parents have been a major influence on
her sports career because “they have always supported me”… daughter of Gene
and Leanne Ridolfi… MAJOR: Health Studies with Teacher’s Certification.

Minute Roll... Rusk played in 19 games and
60th started seven times, including the OVC

contests against UT Martin and Mur-

Opponent ray State… also started five straight
WKU games early in the season… one of six

Panthers to play in every game… put
all three of her shots on goal in the scoreless draw vs. Northern Iowa… ranked
eighth on the team in minutes played, averaging 50 per game… averaged 74
minutes as a starter… went the distance in the road games at Northern Illinois and
Ball State… played a season-high 101 minutes in the draw vs. UNI... 2007: OVC
Commissioner’s Honor Roll... she played in 16 games and started four times,
including three OVC contests… started both games during the shutout weekend
against Tennessee Tech and Austin Peay… her first career goal was of the gametying variety in the second half of the overtime loss at UT Martin… also assisted
on Michelle Steinhaus’ early goal versus Western Kentucky, the same game win
which she made her first career start… played a season-high 84 minutes in the
OT loss at UTM… saw action off the bench in both OVC Tournament contests…
logged double-figure minutes in 10 straight games during the heart of the season... HIGH SCHOOL: Sarah was a four-year varsity letter-winner for coach Barry
Jacobson… also lettered once in basketball… Chicago Tribune and Chicago SunTimes Honorable Mention All-State as a senior… also an Illinois High School Soccer Coaches Assoication All-State selection in ’07… three-time Downers Grove
Reporter All-Area and All-West Suburban Conference honoree… two-time Daily
Herald All-Area and IHSSA all-sectional pick… team honors included rookie of
the year as a freshman and MVP as a senior… DG South won four consecutive West Suburban Conference Gold Division titles… four-year honor roll student
earned numerous academic awards, including: Silver Math, Presidential Scholar
and Illinois State Scholar… also a National Honor Roll student and Spanish Honor
Society member… PERSONAL: No. 1 sports highlight was connecting on the winning penalty kick against Neuqua Valley as a sophomore to win a tournament…
her siblings have been a major influence on her sports career because “they constantly push me to be better”… most admires her long-time athletic trainer James
Tonner because “he has taught me so much and has always been there for me”…
her sister Erin played soccer at Illinois State and her brother Joe played soccer at
College of DuPage… daughter of Bart and Kathy Rusk… MAJOR: Elementary
Education.

2008: OVC Commissioner’s Honor Roll... Shear did not see action in a game
after suffering an injury in the preseason… granted a medical redshirt... 2007: OVC
Commissioner’s Honor Roll... she played in 11 games and started twice, the road
games at Bowling Green and UT Martin… logged double-figures minutes in eight
of the 11 games she played in… played a season-high 68 minutes in the overtime
loss at UT Martin… also logged 50-plus minutes against Eastern Michigan and
Western Illinois... 2006: OVC Commissioner’s Honor Roll... she played in four
games, including the overtime win against Loyola and the OVC opener against
UT Martin... HIGH SCHOOL: Cassie was a four-year varsity starter for her mom,
coach Terri Shear… also played three years of varsity volleyball… two-time First
Team All-State honoree as an upperclassman and team captain… three-time Daily
Tribune Dream Team selection… three-time all-region and all-district… second team
all-state in 2004… Clawson won its district in four consecutive seasons (2003-06)
and captured the regional crown in the spring of ‘06… her United Soccer League
and Michigan Hawks club teams were both State Cup champs… National Honor
Society… four-year class president... Jackie Palmer and Scholar Athlete award
winner… PERSONAL: No. 1 sports highlight was winning the regional finals as a
senior after losing the previous three years… her family has been a major influence
on her sports career because “they have all been behind me in everything I do and
I couldn’t ask for better support”… most admires her mother because “she cared
about her team more than any coach I’ve ever seen and molded it into a winning
team”… her brother Gary played soccer at EIU from 1996-97... daughter of Gary
and Terri Shear… MAJOR: Biological Sciences.

2008: OVC Commissioner’s Honor Roll... Streid redshirted during her first year with
the program due to an injury that she suffered in the spring of 2008... she returned to
the active roster for the spring season and started all of the games coached by Summer Perala, scoring a goal in the win against Valparaiso... HIGH SCHOOL: Ashley
was a four-year letter-winner for coach Gene Briggs… also lettered three times in basketball and once in volleyball… All-Southwestern Conference and St. Louis Post-Dispatch All-Metro honoree as a sophomore and junior… MVP of the Bi-State Shootout…
team captain as senior… GCHS was a three-time super-sectional champ and IHSA
state finals qualifier from 2005-07, finishing third in 2007… scored one of her team’s
two goals in the third place game victory… also part of four consecutive conference
championship teams (2005-08)… registered 21 goals and 11 assists in 2007, sharing
the Metro St. Louis lead with nine game-winning goals… PERSONAL: No. 1 sports
highlight was scoring the game-winning goal against New Trier High School in overtime
of the quarterfinal round of the IHSA state playoffs… her parents have been a major
influence on her sports career because “they’ve always been there to keep pushing me
to do my best”… most admires youth coach Kenny Prazma, the father of GCHS and
EIU teammate Erika Prazma, because “he cares so much for us girls and will always
be there to show us something new”… daughter of Tim and Donna Streid… MAJOR:
Undecided.

2008: Sullivan played in all 19 games
sully’s Goals
and started 16 times, including the fi- Date
Opponent
Minute
nal 10 matches of the season… one of 11/4/08 at Morehead St.*
27th
44th
six Panthers to play in every game… 10/29/08 at Illinois St.
61st
scored EIU’s final two goals of the sea- 10/5/07 Tennessee Tech
sully’s assists
son, tying the Illinois State game just
Goal Scorer
Opponent
before halftime and putting the Panthers Date
ahead early in the OVC Tournament 10/12/08 Pam Melinauskas Morehead
game at Morehead State… assisted on 10/28/07 Michelle Steinhaus Jax State
*OVC Tournament Game
Pam Melinauskas’ game-winning goal
in the regular-season victory vs. Morehead… ranked seventh on the team in minutes, averaging 76 per game… went the
distance three times, including the OVC Tournament game at Morehead… played
a season-high 109 minutes in the overtime win at Tennessee Tech... Eastern is 1-2
when she has scored during her career... 2007: she played in 16 games and started
the Loyola match… scored EIU’s second goal in the win against Tennessee Tech…
assisted on Michelle Steinhaus’ second goal in the must-win game against Jacksonville State… logged a season-high 68 minutes in the Loyola game… the 40 minutes
she played against Austin Peay were her most in an OVC game… saw action in both
OVC Tournament games... HIGH SCHOOL: Kaitlin was a four-year letter-winner for
coach Jay Lipe… also lettered three times in volleyball… as a junior tied the school’s
single-season scoring record with 26 goals en route to earning Central State Eight
Conference Player of the Year honors from the Springfield State Journal-Register…
was also All-State and All-Midwest her junior year… ranked as the team’s secondleading scorer as a sophomore and senior… two-time all-conference honoree as an
upperclassman... all-sectional pick as a team captain her senior season... helped
lead Chatham-Glenwood to three conference titles… her team was runner-up in the
2005 IHSA State Tournament after finishing third a year earlier... four-year honor
roll student… also played for the Five Star Soccer Club and most recently the Lady
Magic… PERSONAL: No. 1 sports highlight was defeating two-time defending state
champs St. Viator in the IHSA Tournament as a freshman… God has been a major
influence on her sports career because “through him, all things are possible”… most
admires coach Lipe because “he incorporated life lessons with soccer and coached
me to be not only a better player, but a better person”… her uncles Scott and Bryan
played collegiate football at the Division I level and her cousins Liz and Eric played
basketball and football, respectively, at Division I schools… daughter of Kelly and
Deb Sullivan… MAJOR: Journalism.

2008: Williams played in 10 games and started nine
Jenny’s Game-by-game recap
times, including the first two matches of the season Date Opponent
Saves GA
– 2008 –
and five OVC contests… helped EIU lead the OVC in
7
1
saves… stepped up big in the must-win home finale 8/22 at Indiana State
8/26
at Purdue
8
4
against Southeast Missouri, making nine saves and 9/12 at Ball State
7
2
surrendering just one goal… recorded her 200th career 9/21 at Western Illinois
5
2
11
1
save at Illinois State… gave up just one goal in losses 9/26 at UT Martin
6
3
at Indiana State, UT Martin and Illinois State… credited 9/28 Murray State
10/5
at Jacksonville State 5
3
with 11 saves at UT Martin, the second double-figure 10/10 Eastern Kentucky
4
2
total of her career… made at least four saves in every 10/26 Southeast Missouri
9
1
4
1
game she played… nine of her 12 career shutouts have 10/29 at Illinois State
– 2007 –
come against OVC foes… OVC Rankings: second
1
in saves per game (6.6)… EIU All-Time Rankings: 8/31 at Eastern Michigan 6
9/2
at Bowling Green
3
2
second in shutouts, third in minutes, fourth in saves, 9/5 Indiana State
3
0
and fifth in goals against average... 2007: OVC Goal- 9/9
at Missouri
12
3
9/14
Ball
State
7
0
keeper of the Week (Sept. 11)… she started all 17
0
games she played in… earned OVC Goalkeeper of 9/28 at Eastern Kentucky 0
9/30
at Morehead State
1
2
the Week honors after shutting out Indiana State in the 10/5 Tennessee Tech
2
0
home opener and making a career-high 12 saves at 10/7 Austin Peay
2
0
4
nationally-ranked Missouri… also posted solo shutouts 10/12 at Southeast Missouri 2
4
2
against Ball State, Eastern Kentucky, Austin Peay and 10/19 at UT Martin
10/21 at Murray State
5
1
Jacksonville State… played 82 of the 90 minutes of the 10/26 Samford
4
3
Tennessee Tech shutout as well… came up big with 10/28 Jacksonville State
2
0
1
1
high-save totals in impressive wins against Eastern 10/31 Illinois State
6
1
Michigan (6), Ball State (7) and Murray State (6) in the 11/6 at Murray State*
11/9
vs Samford*
1
1
OVC Tournament… dating back to September 2006,
– 2006 –
did not allow a goal at home in more than a calendar 8/25 at Western Illinois
5
1
4
2
year and 979 minutes of game action until Samford 8/27 at Indiana State
9/1
DePaul
6
1
ended the streak on Oct. 26… OVC Rankings: second
9/3
Loyola
5
1
in shutouts, fourth in goals against average, eighth 9/8 Eastern Michigan
3
2
in saves and ninth in save percentage… 2006: OVC 9/15 at Wright State
2
4
2
3
Commissioner’s Honor Roll... OVC Goalkeeper 9/17 at Missouri State
1
0
of the Week (Oct. 31)… she started all 19 games in 9/22 UT Martin
9/24
vs Murray State
3
1
which she played… made a season-high eight saves 9/29 Southeast Missouri
2
1
in the overtime loss at Samford and the win at Illinois 10/6 Tennessee Tech
2
1
State… after not posting her first shutout until the OVC 10/8 at Austin Peay
5
0
2
0
opener, recorded six shutouts in the last eight games… 10/13 Eastern Kentucky
5
0
allowed just three goals in the final eight games of the 10/15 Morehead State
10/20 at Samford
8
2
year, compiling a 0.38 goals against average during 10/22 at Jacksonville State 4
0
that span… earned OVC Goalkeeper of the Week 10/26 at Illinois State
8
0
10/31
UT
Martin*
3
0
honors after making the eight saves at ISU to help EIU
11/3
vs Morehead State*
2
1
end a six-game losing streak to the Redbirds… made
*OVC Tournament Game
arguably her finest saves of the season in big games at
Samford and against Morehead State in the semifinals
of the OVC Tournament… stopped a penalty kick by Loyola’s top scorer, keeping the game tied
and setting the stage for EIU’s overtime victory… surrendered more than two goals in a game
just once against OVC foes… would have started every game in goal if not for sustaining an
injury late in the Eastern Michigan game that kept her out of the next contest… OVC Rankings:
second in goals against average, tied for third in shutouts, fifth in save percentage, and sixth
in saves... HIGH SCHOOL: Jenny was a four-year letter-winner for coach Bill Sanders… also
lettered twice in basketball and volleyball... set a school record for most shutouts in a season
(14)… 2006 All-State selection… three-time All-Western Big Six
Conference pick… two-time team MVP as an upperclassman…
defensive team MVP in ‘04… 2005 all-sectional pick… QHS won
back-to-back conference titles her upperclassman seasons, as
well as a 2006 regional crown… ‘88 ODP team won the Region II
championship and took third at the ODP Nationals in 2006… high
honor roll student… All-Conference Scholastic Team… President’s
Education Award… Society of Academic Achievement… research
presenter at the Illinois Junior Science and Humanities symposium… PERSONAL: No. 1 sports highlight was stopping a penalty
kick against a Missouri ODP team at the regional championships…
her brother Jonathan, who played soccer at Carthage College,
has been a major influence on her sports career because “he has
persevered through so many things and always pushes me to be
better”… most admires French great Zinedine Zidane because
“he is the best athlete in the world”… daughter of Jim and Margie
Williams… MAJOR: Psychology.

23 • Panther Soccer: The OVC’s Premier Program

Caitlin
Burke

Freshman v Midfielder
#17 v 5-Foot-2
Carbondale, Illinois
Carbondale HS
HIGH SCHOOL: Caitlin played for coach
Nick Carr… also lettered in football, serving as CHS’s placekicker her sophomore
year, and cross country… earned AllSouth Seven Conference honors as a
sophomore and junior… team captain as
a senior… 2007 Fralish Cup All-Tournament Team… CHS was a three-time regional champion… honor roll student…
also played for the St. Louis Scott Gallagher (formerly Metro United) club team,
which finished as the runner-up at the
2008 State Cup… PERSONAL: No. 1
sports highlight was being the kicker
on her high school’s football team her
sophomore year… most admires her former coach Amu because “he taught me
to play with everything I have no matter
what the situation”… her uncle Steve
Richardson is a veteran sportswriter who
served as the executive director of the
Football Writers Association of America
and has authored multiple books about
Big 12 Conference sports… daughter of
J.R. Russell and Amy Burke-Russell…
MAJOR: Early Childhood Education.

Freshman v Midfielder
#4 v 5-Foot-5
St. Charles, Missouri
Incarnate Word Acad. HS
HIGH SCHOOL: Kayla was a two-year
letter-winner for coach Annie Beekman…
also lettered twice in cross country…
helped lead IWA to consecutive MSHSAA state titles as an upperclassman,
winning the first-ever Class 3 crown in
2009 on penalty kicks… won the Class
2 title a year earlier and compiled a 36-71 combined record in the two seasons…
earned first and second honors for her
work in the classroom… also played in
indoor soccer leagues… PERSONAL:
No. 1 sports highlight was winning the
MSHSAA state title her senior year… her
father has been a major influence on her
sports career because “his love for the
sport has motivated me to achieve things
I never thought I could… she also most
admires her father because “he was the
hardest on me, but never pushed me too
hard”… daughter of Daryl and Barbara
Doran… her father has seen action in
over 800 games as a professional indoor soccer player, primarily for the St.
Louis Steamers and St. Louis Storm; he
also coached the St. Louis Ambush... her
cousin Brad Peters played soccer at EIU,
scoring 33 goals during his four-year career… MAJOR: Undecided.

Kristin
Germann

2009 Eastern Illinois Women’s Soccer • 24

Freshman v Midfielder
#23 v 5-Foot-4
Carbondale, Illinois
Carbondale HS
HIGH SCHOOL: Kristin played for
coach Nick Carr… also lettered in golf,
basketball, cross country and tennis…
four-time All-South Seven Conference
performer… set single-season school
records for goals and points as a senior… also established a freshman record for most points… CHS was a
three-time regional champion… threetime all-conference pick in basketball…
advanced to sectionals in both golf and
cross country… PERSONAL: No. 1
sports highlight was leading CHS to the
sectional finals for only the second time
in school history… her father has been
a major influence on her sports career
because “he has pushed me to the
limit”… most admires her former coach
Pete Phume because “he inspired me
the most”… son of Chris Germann and
Cindy Jackman... MAJOR: Kinesiology and Sports Studies.

HIGH SCHOOL: Jessie was a two-year
letter-winner for Julie Bergstrom… as a
teammate of fellow Panthers Hillary and
Favorite Pro Sports Team(s)
Jessica Blake, helped lead Waubonsie
HHH Chelsea FC
to the 2008 IHSA state title and 26-0-1
Real Madrid & Chicago White Sox III
record… WVHS was ranked No. 1 in
Favorite Food
HHH Pizza
the nation by USA Today after winning
Teriyaki Chicken & Fried Rice III
the 2008 state title… also reached the
Favorite Month
sectional finals and posted an 18-4 reHHH July III
cord a year later… honor roll student…
Favorite Actor & Film Role
HHH Gerard Butler in P.S. I Love You
also played for the Eclipse Select and
Robert Pattinson in Twilight III
America’s Soccer Club of Naperville
Favorite Super Hero
teams… PERSONAL: No. 1 sports
HHH Spider-Man
highlight was winning the 2008 IHSA
Batman III
Unique Travel Locale
state title… her parents have been a
HHH The Bahamas
major influence on her sports career
Maui III
because “they encourage me to do betHer Ride
ter and push myself to a level I did not
HHH ‘01 Mazda 626
‘03 Saturn Ion III
know I would achieve”… most admires
In Her MP3/CD Player
her former club coach Mike Bristol, now
HHH The Dream
an assistant coach at Florida State, beRascal Flatts III
cause “he helped me a lot understandLast Concert She Attended
HHH Chevelle
ing the game better and to always work
Kenny Chesney III
hard with everything I do”… daughter
of Russ and Michelle Morgan… MAJOR: Social Science Teaching.

Kickin’ it with
Kristin & Jessie

25 • Panther Soccer: The OVC’s Premier Program

J e ss i c a
Taldone

Freshman v Goalkeeper
#1 v 5-Foot-7
Crystal Lake, Illinois
Crystal Lake South HS
HIGH SCHOOL: Jessica
Kickin’ it with
was a two-year varsity letJessica
ter-winner for coach Brian
F
avorite Pro Sports Team
Allen… also played three
Chicago Cubs
years of varsity basketball… Favorite Building on Campus
named First Team All-Area
Lincoln Hall
Favorite Food
by the Daily Herald and First
Egg Plant Parmesean
Team All-Fox Valley ConferFavorite Month
ence by the Northwest HerOctober
ald as a senior… two-time Favorite Actor & Film Role
captain of both soccer and Russell Crow in Gladiator
Favorite Big City
basketball teams as an upChicago
perclassman… team MVP
Unique Travel Locale
as a senior… helped lead
Hawaii
Her Ride
Crystal Lake South to backNissan Quest
to-back Fox Valley ConLast Concert She Attended
ference titles in 2007 and
Dave Matthews Band
2008… Daily Herald HonorLast Book She Read
Redeeming Love
able Mention All-Sectional in
Furry Friend
basketball… four-year honor
Wrigley – Poodle
roll student… also played for
the Crystal Lake Force club
team coached by Diego Cevallos, who is also the head
coach of the women’s team at Judson College in Elgin,
Ill…. PERSONAL: No. 1 sports highlight was shutting
out the rival high school three times in the same year,
including the regional championship game… her parents
and sisters have been a major influence on her sports
career because “they each push me in different ways and
always believe in me”… most admires her club coach
Eric Johansson because “he has taught me about life
and soccer, and there is never a dull moment when he is
coaching”… daughter of Joe and Amy Taldone… MAJOR: Special Education.

27 • Panther Soccer: The OVC’s Premier Program
– 2008 Recap: Resilient Panthers Finish Strong, Keep Tourney Streak Alive –
After remaining resilient through a rough start to its campaign, Eastern Illinois women’s
soccer strung together three consecutive shutout efforts in October to jumpstart its season and
keep its streak of Ohio Valley Conference Tournament appearances alive.
Beginning with an Oct. 12 victory against Morehead State, the Panthers scored six goals
during a 3-1-1 stretch to close the regular season. Eastern traveled to Morehead for the opening
round of the OVC Tournament and led 1-0 at the half. But the Eagles scored twice in the second
half to eliminate EIU, en route to winning the six-team event.
However, Eastern is the only OVC program that has qualified for the conference tournament every year the event has been held – 10 seasons and counting. Senior Pam Melinauskas
represented the Panthers on the All-OVC First Team, giving EIU at least one First Team AllConference performer for the 14th consecutive year. Defender Sam Balek was a Second Team
All-OVC and All-Newcomer Team selection.
Eastern entered its home finale against rival Southeast Missouri riding a shutout streak
of 355 consecutive scoreless minutes and needing a win to clinch an OVC Tournament berth.
Melinauskas and Sam Kohen scored first-half goals and the Panther defense held strong in the
face of a relentless SEMO attack. Even though the shutout streak ended at 434 minutes, EIU
won the game and celebrated a tourney berth-clinching victory.
Eastern also won an overtime game for the fifth straight year. Rachel Hamilton scored
her second career golden goal with one minute remaining in double OT in the Oct. 17 victory at
Tennessee Tech. The win doubled as EIU’s first in Cookeville since 2001.
Despite goalkeepers Kaylin Lorbert and Jenny Williams splitting time as the starter, the
Panthers still managed to lead the OVC in saves. Lorbert ranked among the Top 40 nationally in
save percentage and saves per game, and was a two-time OVC Goalkeeper of the Week honoree. The sophomore accounted for all four of EIU’s shutouts. Williams, meanwhile, delivered in
the clutch in the must-win game against SEMO and also made her 200th career save.
In January former head coach Tim Nowak resigned to join the new coaching staff at the
University of Arkansas being assembled by former Morehead State head coach Erin Aubry. Two
months later, Summer Perala was hired as the third head coach in program history. Perala is
a Rockford native and played at Western Illinois. She comes to EIU after a six-year stint as an
assistant coach at the University of Alabama at Birmingham.
WAY TO GO WILKENING: In only nine minutes of action as a reserve forward at Illinois State,
Lindsey Wilkening scored the first goal of her career and also assisted on Kaitlin Sullivan’s
game-tying score late in the first half. The three-point effort was not only the first of the senior’s
career, but it came on the heels of classmate Pam Melinauskas’ goal-and-assist showing in the
must win game against Southeast Missouri on Oct. 26. Wilkening was named the OVC Player
of the Week for her efforts.
LORBERT’S STREAK OVER; WILLIAMS MAKES 200TH SAVE: Kaylin Lorbert and Jenny
Williams split time in net at Illinois State, playing 45 minutes each. Lorbert returned to the starting role after missing the SEMO game with an illness. She finished with five saves but saw her
shutout streak end at 348 consecutive minutes. It was the first goal she had surrendered since
Sept. 19 at Western Kentucky... Williams made four saves, recording the 200th of her career in
the process. The junior is just the fourth goalkeeper in program history to reach the 200-save
plateau.
SLOTA’S STREAK ENDS: Ashley Slota suffered a foot injury early in the Southeast Missouri
win on Oct. 26 and was held out of the subsequent game at Illinois State, ending her team-long
consecutive games started streak at 49. It was the first game she had missed since 2006 and
just the fourth game total as a Panther.

TWICE IN A SHORT TIME: Lindsey Wilkening and Kaitlin Sullivan scored three minutes and Sam Balek
1,691
12 seconds apart in the loss at Illinois State. That’s the shortest amount of time between two Rebecca Holcomb 1,561
EIU goals since 2007, when Kellie Floyd and Michelle Steinhaus scored two minutes and 30
Rachel Hamilton 1,556
seconds apart in a win at Eastern Kentucky.
Ashley Slota
1,533
PAM & SAM SCORE KEY GOALS: Pam Melinauskas and Sam Kohen provided the offense Pam Melinauskas 1,473
1,462
in the victory against SEMO, scoring five minutes apart in the first half. Melinauskas also tallied Alexis Miller
an assist on Kohen’s game-winner, marking the second time in her career she has registered Kaitlin Sullivan 1,444
966
a goal and an assist in the same game. Kohen’s goal was the first of her career. Ashley Slota Sarah Rusk
was the last Panther whose first career goal doubled as a game-winner. She accomplished the Kaylin Lorbert 933
feat in a 2006 OVC Tournament victory against UT Martin.
Ashley Eck
861
Jenny Williams 837
GOING THE DISTANCE: Among the field players, Ashley Slota played the entire game in 15 of Lindsey Wilkening 837
the 19 games in 2008. Sam Balek, meanwhile, played the entire game in each of the final eight Laura Ridolfi
826
matches and 14 times total. She enters her sophomore season having played 781 consecutive
Dani Flynn
822
minutes. Rebecca Holcomb (10), Hillary Blake (5), Lindsey Wilkening (4), Rachel Hamilton
H
illary Blake
885
(3), Kaitlin Sullivan (3), Elise Farrelly (2), Alexis Miller (2) and Sarah Rusk (2) were the other
Elise Farrelly
829
EIU field players that played an entire game on multiple occasions in 2008.
Sam Kohen
363
Jessica Blake
283
Erika Prazma
222

EIU was slated to play at Missouri on Sept. 11 & participate in a tournament in Hawaii the weekend of Sept. 21-23.
The Mizzou game was rescheduled & the Hawaii tournament canceled in the wake of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.
HOME GAMES IN BOLD
• Ohio Valley Conference match <> + Ohio Valley Conference Tournament (No. 2 seed) <> $ NCAA Tournament

HOME GAMES IN BOLD <> ^ Colorado Soccer Classic
• Ohio Valley Conference match <> + Ohio Valley Conference Tournament (No. 2 seed) <> $ NCAA Tournament
*Games decided by a shootout went into the record book as a win or loss during the 2002 season